Vatican Museums Takes Initiative to Protect the Sistine Chapel

New System to Be Installed

The director of the Vatican Museums has announced that a new system to protect the Sistine Chapel will be installed.

Antonio Paolucci, the museums' director, said: “We are confident that Carrier’s HVAC system [Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning] will enable us to realize our goal of ensuring the preservation of Michelangelo’s masterpieces in the Sistine Chapel, while allowing visitors to continue to behold the frescoes for years to come,” reported Vatican Radio on Tuesday.

The Vatican Museums will install an HVAC system specifically designed to protect Michelangelo’s masterpieces against deterioration. According to the Governate of the Vatican City State and Carrier, it is to be installed and commissioned by the third quarter of 2014.

It will have twice the efficiency and three times the capacity of the previous system, installed in the early 1990s. The custom-engineered solution uses first-of-its kind, energy-saving technologies, as well as methods to minimize noise and limit air motion around the frescoes.

In addition, the Vatican City State's Governate and United Technologies Corp. (UTC) have entered into an agreement to ensure the protection and safety of the Vatican Museums’ artwork, spaces and visitors, through the deployment of building technologies from UTC companies.

According to the agreement's terms, the parties will work together on integrated solutions spanning heating, ventilation and air conditioning; elevators and escalators; fire detection and alarm, as well as fire suppression and safety. They also will collaborate on electronic security, access control, video surveillance services and related software solutions.

Director of Vatican Technical Services, Rev. Rafael García de la Serrana Villalobos has said, “the Carrier solution is the right response to our urgent need to establish a highly controlled microclimate as well as an effective reduction of pollutants."

He added, “Our fruitful collaboration with Carrier has brought us to request a larger technical agreement with UTC and its other building solution brands.” (D.C.L.)